Diesel Runaway Engine

frankdamp wrote:
I'm aware of two incidents in our neck of the woods. Since the engine is using the lube oil in the sump as fuel, there's really no way to stop it, except maybe putting the transmission in Drive with the parking brake on and a heavy foot on the brake pedal. Maybe adding a pillow or a blanket over the air intake would help, but I'm not sure I'd want to be close to a big diesel that might blow to shrapnel any minute.

I've not done any research on the frequency of this problem, but it's one reason we went with a gasser.

Frank, you have to be kidding. The chances are like winning the lottery.

Think about it, in the 9 years we have been motorhoming... I've never heard of a runaway diesel, until this posting. I've heard of gas engines blowing a rod more than once in 9 years. Everything can break. It's very rare for a diesel to disintegrate.

MM.

I'm aware of two incidents in our neck of the woods. Since the engine is using the lube oil in the sump as fuel, there's really no way to stop it, except maybe putting the transmission in Drive with the parking brake on and a heavy foot on the brake pedal. Maybe adding a pillow or a blanket over the air intake would help, but I'm not sure I'd want to be close to a big diesel that might blow to shrapnel any minute.

I've not done any research on the frequency of this problem, but it's one reason we went with a gasser.

Honestly, have 2 cocktails, or 4 beers, then look closely at the smoke. I swear I saw historic figures, and maybe some relitives. Or maybe that was 3 cocktails?

jplante4 wrote:
Putting it in gear and popping the clutch may have saved the engine but wrecked the transmission and/or drive shaft.

Just curious. What costs more, the engine or transmission/drive shaft?
I know everything on those tractors is expensive.

It happens now and then with farm tractors that are tipped over. Crankcase oil gets to the combustion chambers, and a-w-a-y it goes. A CO2 fire extinguisher sprayed in the intake usually takes care of that.

Oil bath air cleaners on a grader on too steep a slope would let it run away until you got it to flatter ground. Yes I've been there.

Wondering whats causing the double posts?

RLS7201 wrote:
The mulit-fuel M35A1s, that I worked on, while in the Army, were famous for runaway. I carried tools on the wrecker to cut the fuel lines. In the M35A1's case, it was fuel pump failure.

Richard

If I remember correctly they had an air cutoff.

This discussion came up some time ago here on the forum (several years ago as I recall). One suggestion that was made that stuck in my head was to grab a large bed pillow or similar and put it over the air intake opening (generally speaking, usually in the one of the upper corners of the rear cap)therefore blocking off the air to the engine causing it to stall. Fortunately, I never had to try it and hope that I never do.

I saw an old Detroit Diesel runaway when I was going through tech school in the AF. Runaways were usually caused by a seal going out in the supercharger. The engine would suck the oil out of the crankcase and burn it like diesel fuel and the engine would just speed up until it blew. The instructor grabbed a field jacket and stuffed it down the intake and the engine choked out. That one was due to a student adjusting the fuel rail incorrectly.